City archaeologist to report on digs

Special to The Record

Published Monday, January 05, 2009

Carl Halbirt, archaeologist for the city of St. Augustine, will report on archaeological investigations undertaken in the city during 2008 when the St. Augustine Archaeological Association meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Flagler Room of Flagler College.

The SAAA programs are co-sponsored by the Florida Public Archaeological Network, and free and open to the public.

During the past year, Halbirt and a cadre of volunteers from the SAAA and community have investigated more than 30 properties within the city limits. The results shed new light on the city's unique cultural history from the prehistoric era to the recent past, says Halbirt. The presentation examines a variety of topics including:

* The discovery of a large Woodland Period (ca. A.D. 500 to 800) structure that may have been a council house.

* Evidence of a special use area during the early 17th century in which feasting activities may have occurred.

* Possible construction techniques associated with the Rosario Line (one of the City's 18th century defensive lines), as well as post-abandonment processes that contributed to its disappearance.

* Possible evidence of the 1702 siege of the city by Carolinian militia and their Native American allies.

Halbirt has been the city archaeologist for St. Augustine since 1990. During those 19 years, he has conducted over 500 projects within the city limits.

Halbirt, MPA, University of North Florida, and MA, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, is the 2008 recipient of the Ripley P. Bullen Award from the Florida Anthropological Association.